Tiny Princess Captain America

It's Tiny Princess Captain America time! I made this costume for my three-year-old niece this summer, originally for her to wear at Origins. She's since worn it for San Diego Comic-Con, the Fourth of July, and Halloween. Read on to find out how to make it!

Tiny Princess Captain America is based off of two commercial patterns: Butterick 4967 for the main dress, and Butterick 4054 for the sleeves. The 4054 sleeves fit right on without any issues, and because they're gathered, they're very forgiving of any minor size differences. One thing to note is that 4054 only goes up to a size 4, while 4967 goes up to a size 7. So if you want to make it in one of the larger sizes, you'll either have to grade up the sleeves or find a different puffed sleeve pattern to use.

 

Except for the skirt tiers, all of the outer fabric is Casa Satin from Jo-Ann fabrics (left over from my Captain America USO girl!), and the bodice and skirt are lined with the matching Casa lining. The skirt tiers are a poly georgette. If you use Butterick 4967, I strongly recommend a georgette or crepe for the skirt tiers. Chiffon is too thin, and the satin is just too stiff.

 The Peter Pan collar is drafted straight off of the bodice pattern, which is not very difficult at all. First, draw a line 5/8" down from the edge of the shoulder on both the front and back bodice. This is the seam line.

Next, match up the front and back pieces at the shoulder seam line. It's easiest to fold one of the pieces back and place it on top of the other piece.

Now you can draw your collar on! Drawing a seamline 5/8" in at the neckline and center back will help you size your collar properly (otherwise the seam allowance can make you think your collar is too wide). I decided that a 1.5" collar looked best with my size 2 bodice, so I measured out 1.5" from the neck seamline all the way around, and then rounded it at the center front. I ended up lowering the neck just a little bit at the center front as well.

Use a piece of tracing paper to trace over your completed collar piece, then add seam allowances. I didn't have any tracing paper at the time, so I used a wheel to trace it onto some white paper instead. I used 1/4" seam allowances for most of the collar to reduce bulk, but left a 5/8" seam allowance at the neck.

After I finished the collar, I attached it by sandwiching it between the bodice and bodice lining when I sewed the neck seam. Then, after clipping and pressing, I understitched the seam allowances to the lining, which helped the collar sit properly.

The star is made of silver satin. After figuring out the correct size, I used Steam-a-Seam Lite to fuse it on, then went around the edges with a closely spaced zigzag stitch. Silver fabric paint would also work really well. I glued rhinestones to the points of the star with Gem-Tac, meant for gluing jewels and beads to fabric.

The front of the belt is patterned the same way as the collar-- measure your seamlines first by tracing 5/8" from the bottom and side edges of the bodice front pattern, then draw on a belt shape that you like. If you want to make red and white stripes, draw on those seamlines as well. Trace your belt, then cut the pieces apart and add seam allowances. For the belt ties, I made tubes of fabric and sewed them to the edges of the belt front, and then I tacked the belt to the dress at the side seams.

 

The tiara is made of fun foam, covered with blue satin. I wrapped the satin around to the back and glued it down, then covered the back with a piece of felt cut to the shape of the tiara. Then I painted on the "A" with white fabric paint and added some clear rhinestones. I glued the tiara to a headband form with little combs at the ends, but it would work just as well to attach a piece of elastic to the ends of the tiara and keep it on that way.

Sadly, Tiny Princess Captain America is almost grown out of her dress. Fortunately, however, there's a whole bunch of other Avengers crying out to be Tiny Princesses...

See you next time, Midgardians!